Bearing device

Abstract

The invention is based on a bearing device having a first bearing ring (27), at least one second bearing ring (28) and at least one seal (30) which bears against the first bearing ring with at least one first surface region (32) which lies radially on the inside or radially on the outside, and which bears against the second bearing ring with at least one second surface region (34) which lies radially on the inside or radially on the outside. It is proposed that the seal has at least one elevation (36) which is arranged between the first surface region and the second surface region with respect to an axial direction (38) of the first bearing ring.

Description

[0001] 202400163

[0002] Storage device

[0003] The invention relates to a storage device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] A bearing device (see Figure 1) is known, comprising a first inner ring 10 and a second inner ring 12, which form a gap 14. An annular seal 16 seals the gap. For this purpose, the seal has a first sealing lip 18, which rests against the first inner ring 10, and a second sealing lip 20, which rests against the second inner ring 12. Furthermore, the inner rings 10 and 12 form a groove 22 in which the seal is arranged. Axial end faces 24 of the seal rest against the side walls of the groove. The seal is pressed into the groove.

[0005] In the prior art, it is known to consider all tolerances of the components and geometries involved, and all combinations thereof, when designing such seals. Based on these considerations, different seal sizes are used. Another approach uses a single, maximally sized seal that seals under all tolerances and combinations, and in particular under all groove 22 configurations.

[0006] The object of the invention is, in particular, to achieve high efficiency. This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 and by the features of claim 10, while advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention relates to a bearing device with a first bearing ring, at least one second bearing ring and at least one seal, which bears against the first bearing ring with at least one first surface area, which is radially inner or radially outer, and which bears against the second bearing ring with at least one second surface area, which is radially inner or radially outer.

[0008] It is proposed that the seal have at least one protrusion which, with respect to an axial direction of the first bearing ring, is arranged between the first surface area and the second surface area. The term "radially external" for a surface area of ​​the seal is to be understood in particular as meaning that the surface area is part of a surface of the seal which is arranged on the outside of the seal with respect to a radial direction of the seal. The term "radially internal" for a surface area of ​​the seal is to be understood in particular as meaning that the surface area is part of a surface of the seal which is arranged on the inside of the seal with respect to a radial direction of the seal.The phrase "between" the first surface area and the second surface area" refers specifically to the fact that the raised section is arranged "between" the axial direction of the first bearing ring. This means that the raised section is arranged between a first plane and a second plane, respectively, with the axial direction of the first bearing ring being perpendicular to both planes. The first plane intersects an axial end of the first surface area facing the second surface area, and the second plane intersects an axial end of the second surface area facing the first surface area. This arrangement allows for high efficiency. In particular, it restricts the axial movement of the seal relative to the bearing rings.In particular, it can be achieved that the seal can be arranged spaced apart from the side walls of a groove in which the seal is at least partially arranged.

[0009] Advantageously, the raised section has at least one first area, which is arranged radially inside or radially outside the first bearing ring, and at least one second area, which is arranged radially inside or radially outside the second bearing ring. This allows for a central arrangement of the seal and thus a reliable seal.

[0010] Advantageously, the bearing assembly has at least one gap formed by the first and second bearing rings, and the raised section projects into the gap and / or into an opening of the gap. This allows for a central arrangement of the seal and, in particular, a separation of the first and second surface areas from the gap, thereby ensuring a reliable seal. Specifically, it allows for limited axial movement of the seal relative to the bearing rings, so that the sealing function of the seal is never compromised by axial movement of the seal relative to the bearing rings, as the first or second surface area projects into an opening of the gap and / or into the gap itself.

[0011] Furthermore, it is proposed that the seal have at least one projection extending radially along the seal, which projects into at least one recess in the bearing assembly formed by the first bearing ring and / or by the second bearing ring. This allows for central positioning and, in particular, a reliable seal between the two bearing rings.

[0012] Furthermore, it is proposed that the first bearing ring has at least a third surface area and the second bearing ring has at least a fourth surface area, wherein the third and fourth surface areas, if the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are spaced apart from each other and form a gap, form an opening of the gap or, if the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are in contact with each other, form a radially internal or radially external recess of a unit consisting of the first and the second bearing ring, wherein a distance between the protrusion and an axial end of the third surface area, which is arranged away from the second bearing ring, is smaller than a distance between the second surface area and an axial end of the fourth surface area, which is arranged away from the first bearing ring.This ensures that, when the seal moves in an axial direction, the raised section collides with the third or fourth surface area, thus stopping the movement of the seal before the first or second surface area can enter a non-sealing position.

[0013] In particular, the third surface area and / or the fourth surface area can be a rounded or chamfered surface. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the seal, comprising at least twenty percent of the seal by volume, is arranged in a groove of the bearing assembly and is spaced apart from a first axial end of the groove and from a second axial end of the groove. This allows for high efficiency. In particular, an axially compact design of the seal and material savings can be achieved. Specifically, it allows the seal to be used for other bearing assemblies with fundamentally identical constructions, in which, in particular, the bearing rings have slightly different dimensions within the tolerance range.Furthermore, it can be achieved in particular that the seal can be used for a different bearing device in which the groove has a different dimension.

[0014] Furthermore, it is proposed that, in a fully assembled state, the entire radially outer surface of the seal be offset radially inwards compared to a free state. This ensures that the bearing rings exert a sufficiently high surface pressure on the seal at both the first and second surface areas, guaranteeing a reliable seal.

[0015] Advantageously, the axial length of the seal is greater in a fully assembled state than in a free state.

[0016] Furthermore, it is proposed that the seal be free of fasteners that positively engage the two bearing rings, and / or that the seal be free of positive-locking and / or material-locking fasteners that attach the seal to at least one fastener that positively engages the two bearing rings. This allows for a structurally simple design.

[0017] The seal advantageously includes at least one ring-shaped metal element. This allows for high dimensional stability of the seal.

[0018] In particular, the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring can be spaced apart from each other.

[0019] In particular, the seal can be arranged radially inside the first bearing ring and radially inside the second bearing ring.

[0020] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows an axial section through a part of a bearing device according to the prior art, and

[0022] Fig. 2 shows an axial section through a part of a bearing device according to the invention.

[0023] Figure 2 shows an axial section through a portion of a bearing device according to the invention, which comprises a first bearing ring 27 and a second bearing ring 28. The two bearing rings are each designed as inner rings of a bearing. The bearing can be a rolling bearing or a sliding bearing. For example, the bearing can be a four-row tapered roller bearing. The bearing device has a seal 30 with a first surface area 32 and a second surface area 34. Both surface areas 32, 34 are radially inward. The surface area 32 forms part of a first sealing lip 70 of the seal. Furthermore, the surface area 34 forms part of a second sealing lip 72 of the seal. The first surface area 32 abuts the first bearing ring 27 along its entire inner circumference. The second surface area 34 abuts the second bearing ring 28 along its entire inner circumference.On its radial outer surface, the seal 30 has a projection 36, which is arranged between the first surface area 32 and the second surface area 34 with respect to an axial direction 38 of the first bearing ring 27. The projection 36 has a first area 40, which is arranged radially within the first bearing ring 27. Furthermore, the projection 36 has a second area 42, which is arranged radially within the second bearing ring 28.

[0024] The seal 30 is arranged in a groove 58 of the bearing assembly. The groove 58 has a first axial end 60, which is formed by the first bearing ring 27. The groove also has a second axial end 62, which is formed by the bearing ring 28. The seal 30 is positioned at the axial ends 60 and 62.

[0025] The bearing assembly has a gap 44 formed by the first bearing ring 27 and the second bearing ring 28. Furthermore, the bearing assembly has an opening 46, which is the opening of the gap 44. The projection 36 extends into the opening 46. The first bearing ring 27 has a third surface area 48. The second bearing ring 28 also has a fourth surface area 50. The third and fourth surface areas form the opening 46. The third surface area 48 is an inclined surface that directly connects a cylindrical surface of the first bearing ring, against which the sealing lip 70 rests, with an end face of the bearing ring 27 that defines the gap 44. The fourth surface area 50 is an inclined surface that directly connects a cylindrical surface of the second bearing ring, against which the sealing lip 72 rests, with an end face of the bearing ring 28 that defines the gap 44.In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the surface areas 48, 50 are formed by edge rounding.

[0026] The distance between the projection 36 and an axial end 54 of the third surface area 48, which is located away from the second bearing ring 28, is smaller than the distance between the second surface area 34 and an axial end 56 of the fourth surface area 50, which is located away from the first bearing ring 27. This prevents the seal from shifting its axial position, for example, due to movement during operation, even in cases where the axial ends 60, 62 are very far from the seal 30, to such an extent that one of the sealing lips 70, 72 protrudes into the opening 46, thereby negating the sealing effect of the seal 30. This is prevented because, before the sealing effect is negated, the projection 36 abuts the surface area 48 or the surface area 50, thus preventing further axial movement of the seal relative to the bearing rings. In this sense, the seal 30 is self-centering.

[0027] Figure 2 shows the seal in a fully assembled state. Figure 2 also shows a contour 74 of the seal in a free state, indicated by a dashed line. In the fully assembled state, an entire radially outer surface 64 of the seal 30 is offset radially inward compared to a position 65 of this surface in the free state. In the fully assembled state, the seal has an axial length 66. Furthermore, in the free state, the seal has an axial length 67, which is less than the length 66.

[0028] The seal 30 is free of any fasteners that positively engage the two bearing rings. Furthermore, the seal is free of any positive-locking or material-locking fasteners that attach the seal to a fastener that positively engages the two bearing rings.

[0029] The seal 30 consists of an elastomeric part 76 and an annular metal element 68, which is completely surrounded by the elastomeric part. In an alternative embodiment, the seal is free of the metal element, and the volume occupied by the metal element in the present embodiment is also filled by the elastomeric part. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the metal element increases the dimensional stability of the seal 30.

[0030] The seal 30 is easily installed by snapping the projection 36 into the opening 46. In its fully assembled state, the seal prevents the ingress of contaminants and liquids through the gap 44 into an area of ​​the bearing assembly located between the inner bearing rings 27, 28 and the outer rings of the bearing assembly (not shown). The seal 30 offers cost savings because it can be used both for other identically constructed bearing assemblies where the individual components have slightly different dimensions due to tolerances, and for bearing assemblies with inner rings of different dimensions, particularly a groove comparable to the groove 58 but with a longer axial extension. This is because the seal 30 is self-centering due to the projection 36, as previously described.For the same reasons, the seal 30 can also be used as a replacement part for a wide range of used bearings. Due to the self-centering property of the seal 30, it is ensured that the seal remains in a sealing position at all times, thus achieving a very good sealing function.

[0031] An axial expansion of the seal is independent of the tolerances of the bearing rings 27,28.

[0032] A company that sells seals for bearing devices or storage systems also benefits from the design of seal 30 by needing to keep fewer different seal types in its portfolio for sale or installation, and by needing to manufacture fewer different seals, thus reducing the need for injection molds. This, in particular, reduces costs.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the bearing rings 27,28 can abut each other at their end faces.

[0034] Reference symbol list:

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Bearing device with a first bearing ring (27), at least one second bearing ring (28) and at least one seal (30), which bears against the first bearing ring with at least one first surface area (32), which is radially inner or radially outer, and which bears against the second bearing ring with at least one second surface area (34), which is radially inner or radially outer, characterized in that the seal has at least one projection (36), which is arranged between the first surface area and the second surface area with respect to an axial direction (38) of the first bearing ring.

2. Bearing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (36) has at least a first region (40) which is arranged radially inside or radially outside the first bearing ring (27), and at least a second region (42) which is arranged radially inside or radially outside the second bearing ring (28).

3. Bearing device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing device has at least one gap (44) formed by the first bearing ring (27) and the second bearing ring (28), and the projection (36) extends into the gap and / or into an opening (46) of the gap.

4. Bearing device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first bearing ring (27) has at least a third surface area (48) and the second bearing ring (28) has at least a fourth surface area (50), wherein the third and the fourth surface areas, if the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are spaced apart from each other and form a gap (44), form an opening (46) of the gap or, if the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are in contact with each other, form a radially inner or radially outer recess (52) of a unit consisting of the first and the second bearing ring, wherein a distance between the protrusion and an axial end (54) of the third surface area, which is arranged facing away from the second bearing ring, is less than is defined as a distance between the second surface area and an axial end (56) of the fourth surface area, which is arranged facing away from the first bearing ring.

5. Bearing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the third surface area (48) and / or the fourth surface area (50) is formed by a chamfer or by a rounding.

6. Bearing device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the seal (30), which comprises at least twenty percent by volume of the seal, is arranged in a groove (58) of the bearing device and the part is arranged spaced apart from a first axial end (60) of the groove and spaced apart from a second axial end (62) of the groove.

7. Bearing device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an entire radially outer surface (64) of the seal (30) is radially offset inwards in a fully assembled state compared to a free state of the seal.

8. Bearing device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (30) is free of fastening elements which positively engage the two bearing rings together, and / or the seal is free of positive-locking fastenings and / or material-locking fastenings which fasten the seal to at least one fastening element which positively engages the two bearing rings together.

9. Bearing device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seal (30) has at least one ring-shaped metal element (68).

10. Multi-row rolling bearing, in particular a four-row tapered roller bearing, with a bearing device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9.

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